scholarly journals The lessons of COVID-19 pandemic for communicable diseases surveillance system: A qualitative study in the Kurdistan region-Iraq

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soran Amin Hamalaw ◽  
Ali Hattem Bayati ◽  
Muhammed Babakir-Mina ◽  
Amirhossein Takian
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Kurdistan Region ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
System A ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Training And Supervision

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has revealed a series of unprecedented challenges to Communicable Disease Surveillance Systems (CDSS) globally. This study aimed to determine the opportunities of and barriers to CDSS during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the extent to which the disease integrated into the CDSS in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Methods A descriptive qualitative approach was applied. We conducted 7 semi-structured interviews and one focus group discussions (FGD) with purposefully identified Key Informants (KI) from June to December 2020. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. We adopted a mixed deductive-inductive approach for thematic analysis of data, facilitated by using MAXQDA20 software for data management. Results Although the CDSS was considered appropriate and flexible, the COVID-19 was interpreted not to be integrated into the system due to political concerns. The lack of epidemic preparedness, timeliness, and partial cessation of training and supervision during the pandemic were the main concerns regarding core and support activities. The existence of reasonable surveillance infrastructure, i.e. trained staff was identified as an opportunity for improvement. The main challenges include: staff deficiency, absence of motivation and financial support for present staff, scarce logistics, managerial and administrative issues, and lack of cooperation, particularly among stakeholders and surveillance staff. Conclusion Our findings revealed that due to political barriers, COVID-19 was not integrated into the CDSS. It also highlighted the main facilitators of and barriers to CDSS in the region. We advocate health authorities and policy-makers to prioritize the surveillance and effective management of communicable diseases.

Performance Assessment of a Communicable Disease Surveillance System in Response to the Twin Earthquakes of East Azerbaijan

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Babaie ◽  
Ali Ardalan ◽  
Hasan Vatandoost ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Goya ◽  
Ali Akbari Sari
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Disease Surveillance System ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Set Up ◽  
East Azerbaijan

AbstractObjectiveFollowing the twin earthquakes on August 11, 2012, in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran, the provincial health center set up a surveillance system to monitor communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the performance of this surveillance system.MethodsIn this quantitative-qualitative study, performance of the communicable diseases surveillance system was assessed by using the updated guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Qualitative data were collected through interviews with the surveillance system participants, and quantitative data were obtained from the surveillance system.ResultsThe surveillance system was useful, simple, representative, timely, and flexible. The data quality, acceptability, and stability of the surveillance system were 65.6%, 10.63%, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and positive predictive value were not calculated owing to the absence of a gold standard.ConclusionsThe surveillance system satisfactorily met the goals expected for its setup. The data obtained led to the control of communicable diseases in the affected areas. Required interventions based on the incidence of communicable disease were designed and implemented. The results also reassured health authorities and the public. However, data quality and acceptability should be taken into consideration and reviewed for implementation in future disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:367–373)

Communicable Disease Surveillance Systems in Disasters: Application of the Input, Process, Product, and Outcome Framework for Performance Assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (02) ◽  
pp. 158-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Babaie ◽  
Ali Ardalan ◽  
Hasan Vatandoost ◽  
Mohammad Mahdi Goya ◽  
Ali Akbarisari
Keyword(s):  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Disease Surveillance System ◽  
Outcome Framework ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Process Product

AbstractObjectiveOne of the most important measures following disasters is setting up a communicable disease surveillance system (CDSS). This study aimed to develop indicators to assess the performance of CDSSs in disasters.MethodIn this 3-phase study, firstly a qualitative study was conducted through in-depth, semistructured interviews with experts on health in disasters and emergencies, health services managers, and communicable diseases center specialists. The interviews were analyzed, and CDSS performance assessment (PA) indicators were extracted. The appropriateness of these indicators was examined through a questionnaire administered to experts and heads of communicable diseases departments of medical sciences universities. Finally, the designed indicators were weighted using the analytic hierarchy process approach and Expert Choice software.ResultsIn this study, 51 indicators were designed, of which 10 were related to the input (19.61%), 17 to the process (33.33%), 13 to the product (25.49%), and 11 to the outcome (21.57%). In weighting, the maximum score was that of input (49.1), and the scores of the process, product, and outcome were 31.4, 12.7, and 6.8, respectively.ConclusionThrough 3 different phases, PA indicators for 4 phases of a chain of results were developed. The authors believe that these PA indicators can assess the system’s performance and its achievements in response to disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:158–164)

scholarly journals Survey of Communicable Diseases Surveillance System in Hospitals of Iran: A Qualitative Approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayeb Fadaei Dehcheshmeh ◽  
Mohammad Arab ◽  
Abbas Rahimi Fouroshani ◽  
Fereshteh Farzianpour
Keyword(s):  
Work Experience ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Surveillance Systems

<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Communicable Disease Surveillance and reporting is one of the key elements to combat against diseases and their control. Fast and timely recognition of communicable diseases can be helpful in controlling of epidemics. One of the main sources of management of communicable diseases reporting is hospitals that collect communicable diseases’ reports and send them to health authorities. One of the focal problems and challenges in this regard is incomplete and imprecise reports from hospitals. In this study, while examining the implementation processes of the communicable diseases surveillance in hospitals, non-medical people who were related to the program have been studied by a qualitative approach.</p><p><strong>METHODS:</strong> This study was conducted using qualitative content analysis method. Participants in the study included 36 informants, managers, experts associated with health and surveillance of communicable diseases that were selected using targeted sampling and with diverse backgrounds and work experience (different experiences in primary health surveillance and treatment, Ministry levels, university staff and operations (hospitals and health centers) and sampling was continued until  arrive to data saturation.</p><p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Interviews were analyzed after the elimination of duplicate codes and integration of them. Finally, 73 codes were acquired and categorized in 6 major themes and 21 levels. The main themes included: policy making and planning, development of resources, organizing, collaboration and participation, surveillance process, and monitoring and evaluation of the surveillance system. In point of interviewees, attention to these themes is necessary to develop effective and efficient surveillance system for communicable diseases.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Surveillance system in hospitals is important in developing proper macro - policies in health sector, adoption of health related decisions and preventive plans appropriate to the existing situation. Compilation, changing, improving, monitoring and continuous updating of surveillance systems can play a significant role in its efficiency and effectiveness. In the meantime, policy makers’ and senior managers’ support in development and implementation of communicable disease surveillance’ plans and their reporting plays a key and core role.</p>

scholarly journals Investigating the Impact of Asymptomatic Carriers on COVID-19 Transmission

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob B. Aguilar ◽  
Jeremy Samuel Faust ◽  
Lauren M. Westafer ◽  
Juan B. Gutierrez
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Point Estimate ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Average Case ◽  
Asymptomatic Carriers ◽  
The Impact

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel human respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Asymptomatic carriers of the virus display no clinical symptoms but are known to be contagious. Recent evidence reveals that this sub-population, as well as persons with mild disease, are a major contributor in the propagation of COVID-19. The asymptomatic sub-population frequently escapes detection by public health surveillance systems. Because of this, the currently accepted estimates of the basic reproduction number (ℛ0) of the disease are inaccurate. It is unlikely that a pathogen can blanket the planet in three months with an ℛ0 in the vicinity of 3, as reported in the literature (1–6). In this manuscript, we present a mathematical model taking into account asymptomatic carriers. Our results indicate that an initial value of the effective reproduction number could range from 5.5 to 25.4, with a point estimate of 15.4, assuming mean parameters. The first three weeks of the model exhibit exponential growth, which is in agreement with average case data collected from thirteen countries with universal health care and robust communicable disease surveillance systems; the average rate of growth in the number of reported cases is 23.3% per day during this period.

The Geographical Matrix

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Cliff ◽  
M.R. Smallman-Raynor ◽  
P. Haggett ◽  
D.F. Stroup ◽  
S.B. Thacker
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
League Of Nations ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Degree Of Certainty ◽  
The Times ◽  
Health Organization

A historical–geographical exploration of disease emergence is confronted by a series of fundamental questions: Which diseases have emerged? When? And where? For some high-profile diseases, such as Legionnaires’ disease, Ebola viral disease, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the first recognized outbreaks are well documented in the scientific literature and the space–time coordinates of these early events can be fixed with a high degree of certainty. But, for some other diseases—especially those that, over the decades, have periodically resurfaced as significant public health problems—the times and places of their rise to prominence can be harder to specify. Accordingly, in this chapter we undertake a content analysis of three major epidemiological sources to identify patterns in the recognition and recording of communicable diseases of public health significance in the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Our analysis begins, in Section 3.2, with an examination of global and world regional patterns of communicable disease surveillance as documented in the annual statistical reports of the League of Nations/World Health Organization, 1923–83. In Section 3.3, we turn to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) landmark publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) to identify ‘headline trends’ in the national and international coverage of communicable diseases, 1952–2005. Finally, in Section 3.4, the inventory of epidemic assistance investigations (Epi-Aids) undertaken by CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), 1946– 2005, provides a unique series of insights from the front line of epidemic investigative research. Informed by the evidence presented in these sections, Section 3.5 concludes by specifying the regional–thematic matrix of diseases for analysis in Chapters 4–9. The systematic international recording of information about morbidity and mortality from disease begins with the Health Organization of the League of Nations, established in the aftermath of the Great War. The first meeting of the Health Committee of the Health Section of the League took place in August 1921 to consider ‘the question of organising means of more rapid interchange of epidemiological information’ (Health Section of the League of Nations 1922: 3).

scholarly journals Large Scale Mobile Medical Service Programme: Data Insights for strengthening local surveillance

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishal Dogra ◽  
Shailendra Hegde ◽  
Nitin Rathnam ◽  
Sridhar Emmadi ◽  
Vishal Phanse
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Medical Service ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Events ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
The Village

ObjectiveWe report the findings of Andhra Pradesh state’s mobile medical service programme and how It is currently used to strengthen the disease surveillance mechanisms at the village level.IntroductionIndia has an Integrated Disease Surveillance project that reports key communicable and infectious diseases at the district and sub-district level. However, recent reviews suggest structural and functional deficiencies resulting in poor data quality (1). Hence evidence-based actions are often delayed. Piramal Swasthya in collaboration with Government of Andhra Pradesh launched a mobile medical unit (MMU) programme in 2016. This Mobile medical service delivers primary care services to rural population besides reporting and alerting unusual health events to district and state health authorities for timely and appropriate action.The MMU service in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is one of the oldest and largest public-private initiatives in India. Two hundred and ninety-two MMUs provide fixed-day services to nearly 20,000 patients a day across 14,000 villages in rural Andhra Pradesh. Every day an MMU equipped with medical ( a doctor) and non-medical (1 nurse, 1 registration officer, 1 driver, 1 pharmacist, 1 lab technician, 1 driver) staff visit 2 service points (villages) as per prefixed route map. Each MMU also has its own mobile tablet operated by registration officer for capturing patient details. The core services delivered through MMUs are the diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and free drug distribution to the beneficiaries suffering from common ailments ranging from seasonal diseases to acute communicable and common chronic non-communicable diseases. The routinely collected patient data is daily synchronized on a centrally managed data servers.MethodsFor this analysis, we used aggregated and pooled data that were routinely collected from August 2016-March 2018. Patient details such as socio-demographic variables (age, sex etc.) medical history and key vitals (random blood sugar, blood pressure, pulse rate etc.) and disease diagnosis variables were analyzed. Besides, communication and action taken reports shared with Government of Andhra Pradesh were also analyzed. We report the findings of the programme with reference to strengthing the village level communicable disease surveillance. Unusual health events were defined as more than 3 patients reporting the epidemiologically linked and similar conditions clustered in the same village.ResultsWe observed 4,352,859 unique beneficiaries registrations and 9,122,349 patient visits. Of all unique beneficiaries, 79.3% had complete diagnosis details (53% non-communicable disease, 39% communicable and 8% others conditions). A total of 7 unusual health events related to specific and suspected conditions (3 vector-borne diseases related, 4 diarrhea-related) were reported to district health authorities, of which 3 were confirmed outbreaks (1 dengue, 1 malaria, and 1 typhoid) as investigated by local health authorities.ConclusionsMobile medical services are useful to detect unusual health events in areas with limited resources. It increases accountability and response from the Government authorities if the timely information is shared with competent health authorities. Careful evaluation of the mobile health interventions is needed before scaling-up such services in other remote rural areas.References1. Kumar A, Goel MK, Jain RB, Khanna P. Tracking the Implementation to identify gaps in Integrated Disease Surveillance Program in a Block of District Jhajjar (Haryana). Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2014;3(3):213-215.2. Raut D, Bhola A. Integrated disease surveillance in India: Way forward. Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health.2014;3(4):1-10

scholarly journals Communicable disease epidemiology training in Northern Europe

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-50
Author(s):  
P Aavitsland ◽  
S Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Immunisation Programme ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
The State ◽  
Disease Epidemiology ◽  
Hiv Surveillance ◽  
Baltic Countries ◽  
And Control

The five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) have a long tradition of collaboration in communicable disease epidemiology and control. The state epidemiologists and the immunisation programme managers have met regularly to discuss common challenges and exchange experiences in surveillance and control of communicable diseases. After the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) regained independence in 1991 and the Soviet Union dissolved, contacts were made across the old iron curtain in several areas, such as culture, education, business, military and medicine. Each of the Nordic communicable disease surveillance institutes started projects with partners in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or the Russian Federation. The projects were in such diverse areas as HIV surveillance and prevention (1), vaccination programmes and antibiotic resistance. In the mid 1990s the Nordic state epidemiologists noted that there was duplication of efforts and only slow progress towards controlling communicable diseases in the region. Thus, to use the resources more efficiently and to improve the relationships with the Baltic partners, the state epidemiologists set out to co-ordinate their bilateral efforts. They felt that the Nordic network, which had worked so well, could easily be extended eastwards.

scholarly journals Notifiable diseases after implementation of COVID-19 public health prevention measures in Central Queensland, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Odewumi Adegbija ◽  
Jacina Walker ◽  
Nicholas Smoll ◽  
Arifuzzaman Khan ◽  
Julieanne Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽  
Notifiable Diseases ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Travel Restrictions

The implementation of public health measures to control the current COVID-19 pandemic (such as wider lockdowns, overseas travel restrictions and physical distancing) is likely to have affected the spread of other notifiable diseases. This is a descriptive report of communicable disease surveillance in Central Queensland (CQ) for six months (1 April to 30 September 2020) after the introduction of physical distancing and wider lockdown measures in Queensland. The counts of notifiable communicable diseases in CQ in the six months were observed and compared with the average for the same months during the years 2015 to 2019. During the study’s six months, there were notable decreases in notifications of most vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza, pertussis and rotavirus. Conversely, notifications increased for disease groups such as blood-borne viruses, sexually transmitted infections and vector-borne diseases. There were no reported notifications for dengue fever and malaria which are mostly overseas acquired. The notifications of some communicable diseases in CQ were variably affected and the changes correlated with the implementation of the COVID-19 public health measures.

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